Urban Development

Financial crunch in civic body: no new projects, only basic amenities

Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:35 administrator

Indian Express 19.11.2009

Financial crunch in civic body: no new projects, only basic amenities

While the economic situation in the country is improving, the slowdown seems to have dampened Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's development plans for the city. Facing severe financial crunch, the BMC has decided not to undertake any new projects or beautifications plans in the coming year and stick to providing basic amenities to the citizens.

The civic administration has already asked its departments to cut down administrative cost by 10 per cent and postpone beautification, refurbishment and other trivial projects. “We will not have enough funds to invest in new projects. So it is obvious that no new projects will be undertaken in financial year 2010-11,” said chief accountant (finance) Ram Dhas.

The process for the next year's budget has already started and departments have been asked to concentrate on completing the current projects. “The priority will be completing and taking the current projects to logical end. The projects on which the work has already begun will be undertaken next year, but we are not in a condition to take any new projects,”Dhas said.

This means, projects worth Rs 500 crore, including Rs 300 crore for developing Mumbai as a tourist spot recommended in this year’s budget, will have to wait. A budget of Rs 300-cr included expenditure on heritage walks in selected areas, a cycle track along Irla nullah, a Mangrove Wetland centre, a Hutatma Smarak for martyrs, a Sanyukta Maharashtra Smarak wax museum, the beach nourishment project, beautification of Chimbai and Worli beaches, development of Haji Ali promenade, beautification of Sion fort, upgradation of playgrounds, development of children’s parks and conservation of historical statues and fountains.

Civic officials said that number of big projects of road improvement and widening were already completed over the last two years and most of the water and sewerage projects including Middle Vaitarna Dam, BRIMSTOWAD and Mumbai Sewerage Disposal Project are centrally funded. “The task is to continue the operation, maintenance and repairs of capital works which are the basic amenities provided by the BMC,” an official said.

Don’t target us, look at your own spending: corporators
While the BMC is finding ways of cost cutting, corporators slammed the administration for wasting crores in appointing consultants for its various projects. Members of the standing committee opposed filling of 15 posts in the Development Plan department and protested recruitment of consultants. BMC is in midst of preparing a new DP for the city which envisages planning over the next 20 years. Corporators criticized the administration's inefficiency in completing civic projects on time that result in cost escalation. Members said the BMC should step up its vigilance in collecting octroi which is currently facing a 10 per cent dip in income.

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:38

Development control rules in suburbs: meeting soon to streamline details

Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:26 administrator

Indian Express 19.11.2009

Development control rules in suburbs: meeting soon to streamline details

With the state government clearing the development control (DC) rules for areas upto 10 kms from the civic limits, the revenue department, city survey department and the town planning department are getting ready to implement the notification. Towards this end, principal secretary (Urban Development Department) TC Benjamin will soon have a joint meeting with various government officials.

“The meeting will address issues pertaining to completion certificate, occupancy, additional staff and other related procedures which will streamline the course of things for development,” said Sadhana Naik, deputy director, town planning department. A road network plan is also being readied which developers and landowners will have to incorporate in their development proposals.

Naik said since DC rules earlier were not applicable beyond the civic limits, the fringe areas developed haphazardly. Though DC regulations for the areas within these municipal limits have been modified from time to time, the DC rules for areas within the Pune region were not modified in respect of height of the building and parking provisions. There would be skyscrapers which needed coordinated efforts from various departments including the fire department which issues the NoC. The town planners have mentioned that fringe areas would have better road network and an increased Floor space index (FSI).

Builders have expressed happiness over the notification and hope for better development. Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India president Satish Magar said that, in the present scenario, the entire development is taking place in these peripheral areas. “The notification would bring about uniformity and change the scene of development. We only hope that is quickly implemented,” he said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:28

A public inconvenience

Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:48 administrator

The New Indian Express 19.11.2009

A public inconvenience

Express News Service

KOCHI: It is indeed galling that the city which sees a daily inflow of about two lakh people in addition to the resident population does not have basic public amenities. Topping the list is the lack of hygienic public toilets, an important feature of all cities across the world, which has conveniently been ignored by the Corporation.

Though the fund for constructing public toilets is regularly marked in every budget, the proposal does not seem to have moved beyond the paper. The Corporation’s 2009-10 budget proposed pay ‘n’ use toilets in fifteen prominent bus shelters in the city but the project is deadlocked. The places identified include Kadavanthra, Fort Kochi, Shenoys premises, Kaloor, High Court Junction, College ground, Stadium, Marine Drive, Thoppumpady, Palluruthy, Thevara, Passport office and Vyttila.

“There is a mention of the proposal in every year’s budget but sadly nothing comes of it,” says Corporation opposition leader A B Sabu.

“Vyttila Junction is one of the busiest in Kerala but it does not have even the basic public amenities. The lack of toilet facilities here is a major concern for travellers, especially women,” he says.

The inability to find land for construction was the main reason for the non-implementation of the plan in past years. But now the project is pending because of the lack of understanding between Corporation officials and sponsors in this public-private venture.

With less than one year remaining for the Corporation to complete its tenure, the authorities need to try really hard to see the project taking shape finally.

“Negotiations are still going on with private sponsors and we are hopeful of a positive result soon. But we cannot bow down to every demand,” says P G Thomas, Corporation secretary.

“The majority of companies demand ownership right of the building for a period of 30 years but the Corporation can only accept the plan for 15 years” he says.

The Corporation is also holding talks with the Kerala Builders Forum to involve them in the venture. To make matters worse, Mobile Toilet, another proposal of the Corporation, was also shelved. Officials from Hyderabad held meetings and identified locations but no further action was taken on this project.

And the GCDA too had made big plans in association with Sulabh International, an NGO and world class sanitation system consultants, to construct well-maintained public toilets in the city, near the Passport Office in Panampilly Nagar, at the eastern entrance of Ernakulam Junction Railway Station and on Marine Drive.

Though this year’s budget allotted funds for this project, Kochiites are yet to see the plan becoming a reality.

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:50

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